HELP! eggs and then... no eggs!!! Over a week now! What is going on ?

[momofsomj]

We got got two BO's over a month ago, they took to the new coop immediately and layed eggs every day until they had a clutch of 14.
We wanted the broody one to hatch them, so we left them all for her. She sat on them for a bit here and there for three days and then wanted nothing to do with them. Now neither of them are sitting, and neither of them are laying.
We finally threw out the eggs and hoped they would start laying again. But no!
We will be heart broken if anything happens to these sweeties.
Are they sick? Do eggs get clogged up inside of them?Do we need to call in a vet to help them?
Someone help with advice! Please!

Thank you!
A new chicken lover who appreciates all the experts out there.

 

[Judy]

I think you need to give them some more time. After being broody, it can take a hen a lot longer than 10 days to go back to laying.

Yes, a hen can get eggbound. But it is not that common, so it is unlikely that two of them would be eggbound at the same time. And they will get pretty sick looking pretty quickly if this happens.

I'm certainly no expert -- I have had one broody. Her egg is different from any other hen here, so I am sure it took her at least a month of being a normal outdoor chicken before she laid again. Then she went back to laying almost every day. (Now she's gone broody again and I have no mature roo.... sigh....)

Patience!

 

[MissPrissy]

Moving hens to a new home within a month broke any broodiness one was showing, if it was broody at all. Leaving eggs in a nest does not make a broody hen.

Once in a new home they usually stop laying while adjusting to the stress of a new environment. Also this is the time they will exhibit any illnesses lurking in the shadows.

Once they make the adjustment they will start laying again particularly if they are receiving a good layer feed.

Keep in mind chickens are not little machines. Biological organisms come with lots of quirks and tweeks and for many many reasons they will stop laying and then start again when physically ready to expend the energy.

Keep in mind some hens NEVER go broody and will not set and hatch a clutch of eggs. If you want chicks now your best bet is to hatch them yourself or find someone local hatching them.